YAMAHA Complaints

BIKE STALLS WHEN CLUTCH IS PULLED IN. RPM'S DROP TO ZERO. WAS ALMOST RUN OVER BY TRAFFIC BEHIND ME WHEN ENGINE STALLS. INJURED MYSELF (FOOT/ANKLE) WHEN TRYING TO PUSH THE BIKE OFF THE ROAD (SO I WOULDN'T BE RUN OVER). I'VE BEEN TOLD BY MANY FZ6 RIDERS THAT MANY OF THE FZ6 BIKES HAVE DEFECTIVE THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSORS (TPS) AND THAT YAMAHA HAS NOT RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT TO BE A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. SOONER OR LATER, SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET RUN OVER BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTIVE SENSOR. *NM

MY 2005 YAMAHA ROYAL STAR VENTURE MOTORCYCLE DISCHARGES DANGEROUSLY HOT AIR FROM THE COOLING FAN, 140 DEGREES AT 50 MPH AND 168 DEGREES WHEN STOPPED AT IDLE. THE SUPER-HOT AIR IS DIRECTED ON YOUR LEGS. MY LEGS WERE BURNED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATE THE BIKE IS ACCEPTABLE. *NM

MOTORCYLCE VAPOR LOCKING PROBLEMS WITH 2005 ROAD STAR WARRIOR, SAFETY POTENTIAL FOR STALLING IN TRAFFIC. THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF RUN OVER. *NM

DT: OWNER BOUGHT A SCOOTER AND THERE WAS A SUBSTANCE COATING ON THE PANEL, AND THERE WAS A CRACK . THE PANEL WAS LOCATED ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE OWNER CONTACTED THE SALES REPRESENTATIVE FROM BARGAIN GEMS, HE SENT A REPLACEMENT PANEL. THEN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN ON THE HEADLIGHT HIGH BEAMS ABOUT A MONTH LATER, THE HEADLIGHTS HA D A BLOWN BULB. THEN, THE OWNER CALLED THE SALES REPRESENTATIVE WHO SENT OWNER A REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHT AND BULBS. THE VEHICLE STARTED LEAKING OIL A MONTH AGO. THE OWNER COULD NOT FIND ANYONE TO WORK ON THE PRODUCT. THE OWNER COULD NOT REPAIR THE OIL LEAK. HE GOT THE LEAK TO SLOW DOWN, BUT NOT STOP. THERE WAS A BREEDER HOSE FOR THE CRANK CASE, THE HOSE WAS PINCHED. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE NOT TO GET AIR. THEN, WHEN OWNER WENT TO CHECK OIL IT LEAKED OIL. THEN THE HOSE SUCKED PRESSURE IN. CURRENTLY, THE ENGINE STILL LEAKS, AND THE OWNER THOUGHT THE SEAL WAS DAMAGED. THEN, WHILE DRIVING THE OWNER NOTICED THE VEHICLE REVVED UP AND THE SCOOTER STOPPED. THERE WAS A CRACKING NOISE, AND SOMETHING CAME LOOSE. THEN THE OWNER PUSHED AND COASTED DOWN A HILL TO A FRIEND'S DRIVEWAY. THE FRIEND GAVE THE OWNER A RIDE HOME. THE OWNER RETRIEVED THE SCOOTER FROM FRIEND. THE OWNER DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. OWNER HAS THE PARTS TO FIX THE ENGINE BUT IT IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM TO FIX IT. THE GAS GAUGE DIDN'T WORK. THEN THE OWNER CHECKED THE BATTERY. THERE WAS AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF BATTERY ACID ON THE GROUND WIRE. OWNER TOOK OUT THE BATTERY AND CLEANED IT.*AK

I HAVE A 2004 YAMAHA FZ-6 AND I BELIEVE THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR IS BAD. THE BIKE STALLS AND RUNS VERY ERRATICALLY AT LOW RPMS. I HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE KILL SWITCH AND KEY OFF TO RESET THE SYSTEM AND THEN IT STARTED AGAIN. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN IN A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA THE BIKE COULD STALL AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM YET, I AM WAITING TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PART. I KNOW THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL MOTORCYCLE. *NM

I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY YAMAHA FZ6. THE MANUAL ADVISES TO USE 87 OCTANE FUEL. I HAVE BEEN USING 87 UNTIL THE BIKE STARTED TO IDLE AT VERY VERY LOW INTERVALS. CAUSING LOSS OF POWER WHEN DRIVING, OR STOPPED. NORMAL IDLE IS 1320 RPM. IDLE WILL DROP BETWEEN 600-800 RPM WHEN STOPPED CAUSING THE BIKE TO DIE (EVERY TIME) OR WHILE DRIVING THE BIKE WILL IDLE FINE THEN THE RPM'S WILL DROP WAY DOWN , THEN BACK UP THEN DOWN THEN WAY BACK UP. I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD ADJUST THE BIKES IDLE. THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR A MONTH AND THEN I BEGAN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE. IDLE DROPPING AFTER FILLING WITH 87 OCTANE. I DECIDED TO TRY OTHER FUELING STATIONS 87 OCTANE. STILL NO CHANGE. I DECIDED TO TRY 89 OCTANE. WITH 89 OCTANE, SMALL IMPROVEMENT, WITH THE SAME ISSUES. I THEN DECIDED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM CAUSING ME TO HAVE 4 CLOSE ACCIDENT ENCOUNTERS TO GO AHEAD AND TRY 92 (PREMIUM GRADE OCTANE). THIS SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM OF THE IDLE DROPPING WAY DOWN, HOWEVER, THE IDLE STAYS HIGHER NOW THAN THE NORMAL 1320 RPM. NOW AROUND THE 1400 RPM RANGE. THE BIKE STILL HAS A ISSUE WITH POWER CUTTING IN AND OUT WITH NO IDLE CHANGE. I'M REPORTING THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I HAVE HAD 4 ALMOST CRITICAL ENCOUNTERS WITH OTHER VEHICLES BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF IDLE/POWER WHILE EITHER BEING STOPPED OR DRIVING. I DECIDED TO POST THIS PROBLEM UP ON WWW.SPORTBIKES.NET. I FOUND THAT 5 OTHER FZ6 RIDERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THEY TOO HAD CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH OTHER VEHICLES. JUST FYI I MADE THE POST ON 07/29/05 AND ALREADY ON 07/30/05 THERE HAVE BEEN 5 OTHERS WITH THE SAME BIKE, HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A GREAT AMOUNT. SOME HAVE TRACKED THIS PROBLEM DOWN TO THE TPS - THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THEY REPORTED AFTER HAVING THIS REPLACED THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM COMPLETELY. SENSE I HAD THIS PROBLEM WITHIN THE 6 MONTHS OF HAVING THE BIKE, AND DUE TO OTHERS HAVING THIS ISSUE, A RECALL ON THIS BIKE SHOULD BE ISSUED. *JB

DT: 2003 , YAMAHA MOTORCYCLE'S FRAME RUSTED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THERE WAS A BRACKET WELDED TO THE FRAME THAT CRACKED. A CLOSER EXAMINATION REVEALED ALL 4 SIDES OF THE BRACKETS WERE CRACKED. . CONSUMER CAUGHT THIS IN TIME, AND THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS OR FAILURES. BUT CONSUMER FELT IF THIS HAD BROKEN COMPLETELY THE WHOLE SUSPENSION WOULD HAVE DROPPED FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER, WHO SAID THEY COULD WELD THIS FRAME OR BUY A NEW FRAME. CONSUMER OPTED TO BUY THE NEW FRAME BECAUSE HE FELT THIS WAS THE SAFEST OPTION. CONSUMER TOOK MOTORCYCLE FROM DEALER TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, WHO WAS MORE TRUSTED BY CONSUMER, HAD DISCUSSED REINFORCING THE BRACKET IF THIS WOULD BE WEAK. THE NEW FRAME WAS DOUBLE WALLED IN COMPARISON TO THE OLD FRAME WHICH WAS SINGLE WALLED. AT THIS TIME MOTORCYCLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. *AK

2001 YAMAHA RAPTORTRANSMISSION FAILURE, TRANSMISSION WILL LOCK UP WHEN UNDER A LOAD IN 2ND GEAR.. COMPLETELY LOCKING UP THE BACK TIRES RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE CRASH SITUATION.. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY 2001 YAMAHA RAPTOR, FIRST TIME WAS UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY, PURCHASED NEW IN MARCH OF 01, FAILED MAY OF 01. MINE FAILED BEFORE THE UPDATED PARTS WERE AVAIALABLE FROM YAMAHA.. MY TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN IN JUNE OF 05. I CALLED YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION AND MY LOCAL DEALER, BOTH SAID THAT THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF A KNOWN PROBLEM OR A SAFETY CONCERN RELATED TO THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I FEEL THAT A PROBLEM THAT WILL CAUSE YOU TO GO INTO A UNCONTROLLED SKID AT APRX 30 MPH IS VERY DANGEROUS. LUCKILY I WAS NOT HURT IN THIS INCIDENT.

IN SEPTEMBER OF 2004 AT APPROXIMATELY 5000 MILES, THE MOTORCYCLE BEGAN IDLING POORLY AND STALLING. HAD TO TURN OFF THE KEY AND THEN BACK ON BEFORE IT WOULD START AGAIN. YAMAHA REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AFTER BRINGING IT TO THEM TWICE WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALMOST 13000 MILES ON IT NOW AND IT IS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS DISTRACTING AND HINDERS MY ABILITY TO WATCH TRAFFIC AND FREQUENTLY STALLS AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS.

WHILE RETURNING HOME FROM VACATION, I EXPERIENCED TREAD LOSS ON THE REAR TIRE OF MY MOTORCYCLE. I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON HIGHWAY 95 (SOUTHWEST NEVADA). ABOUT 30 MILE NORTH OF BEATTY NV, I FELT A "BUMP" AND HEARD THE THUMP AND CLANK OF SOMETHING BOUNCING OFF THE INSIDE OF THE REAR FENDER. I PULLED OVER TO INSPECT AND COULD NOT LOCATE ANY PROBLEMS. I RESUMED MY TRIP AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME SOUND ABOUT 5 MILES LATER. I STOPPED TO INSPECT AGAIN AND THIS TIME DISCOVERED THAT 2 LARGE CHUNKS OF TREAD WERE MISSING OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE TIRE. EVERYONE WHO HAS SEEN IT DESCRIBES THE DAMAGE AS HAVING THE APPEARANCE OF A RETREAD TIRE, WHICH TO MY KNOWLEDGE, IT WASN'T. LUCKILY, THE TIRE CONTINUED TO HOLD AIR AND THE FAILURE DID NOT CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. IT COULD HAVE BEN MUCH WORSE. UNABLE TO GET CELL PHONE CONNECTION AND UNABLE TO FLAG DOWN ANYBODY WHO DID, I OPTED TO LIMP THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE NEXT TOWN, HOPING TO BE ABLE TO GET HELP THERE. I TRAVELED FOR ABOUT 25 MILES AT VERY LOW SPEED. ONCE IN GOLDFIELD NV, I WAS ABLE TO CONNECT TO MY CELL PHONE CARRIER AND PROCEEDED TO GET HELP. NOT WANTING TO PUSH MY LUCK ON THE BAD TIRE, I CALLED THE NEAREST AVAILABLE LOCATION (POTOMAH NV) TO GET A TOW THERE. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL YAMAHA DEALER AND THEY WERE ABLE TO ORDER A NEW TIRE FOR ME. AFTER 2 NIGHTS WAITING FOR DELIVERY, THE FAILED TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE. THE TIRE (DUNLOP D404 SERIES FOR A 1997 YMAHA ROYAL STAR) WAS NOT NEW, BUT STIL HAD SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES BEFORE NEEDING REPLACEMENT. THE UNEXPECTED FAILURE LEFT ME BASICALLY STRANDED IN APLACE I DIDN'T WANT TO BE AND COST ME ~$500 IN TOTAL EXPENCES BEFORE I COULD GET BACK ON THE ROAD HOME. AT THIS MOMENT, I HAVE THE FAILED TIRE IN MY POSESSION. TO DATE, (7/20/2005) I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO TALK TO ANYONE AT DUNLOP THAT CAN ASSIST ME IN SEEKING SOME COMPENSATION FOR MY DAMAGES.